Flying off on vacation with her boss’s husband, the happy woman waited for him at the airport. Suddenly, a fortune teller touched her hand…

Her career, her relationship, her hopes for the future—all turned to dust. She took out her phone and dialed Michael’s number. It rang, but he didn’t answer.

After the fifth ring, voicemail kicked in. Emily didn’t leave a message. What could she say? That Victoria knows everything? That their plans are ruined? That perhaps everything between them was just another amusement for him? Her gaze fell on the computer.

The password was changed, but maybe she could access the system another way. Emily had worked in IT before becoming a financial analyst and remembered some old skills. She took a flash drive from her purse, which she always carried just in case.

Inserting it into the USB port, Emily ran the recovery program. In a few minutes, she gained access to her computer, bypassing the standard authentication system. «At least that works,» Emily thought, looking at the desktop.

She opened her email, but found most messages deleted. It seemed Victoria or someone on her orders had already cleaned her account. Emily checked the network drives, the financial reports she’d worked on in recent months.

Everything looked normal, but Victoria’s words haunted her. «You didn’t notice the discrepancies? Numbers that don’t add up? What was she talking about?» Emily opened the folder with the reports Michael had shown her. She began carefully checking every number, every formula in the tables.

And then she saw it. Minor discrepancies in amounts. Write-offs not properly documented.

Funds transferred to accounts of companies not on the official supplier list. «Oh my God!» Emily whispered. This is financial fraud, a voice said behind her.

Emily turned sharply. Michael stood in the doorway. He looked exhausted, his tie loosened, despair on his face.

«Michael? What’s going on?» Emily stood up, unsure whether to be glad or afraid of his appearance. He entered the office and closed the door behind him. «Victoria is laundering money through the company,» he said quietly, approaching Emily.

For several years now. I found out by accident six months ago. Emily felt blood pounding in her temples.

«And you didn’t report it to the police? Didn’t go to the IRS?» Michael smiled bitterly. «With what evidence?» «Everything is set up so the trails lead to me. I’m listed as director of several shell companies.

My signature is on most documents. Victoria arranged everything perfectly—if it comes out, I’ll be the one to answer.» Emily looked at Michael, unable to believe what she heard.

It was all much more complicated and scarier than she initially thought. That’s why you asked me to check those reports. She asked.

You wanted me to discover the fraud? Michael nodded. I hoped your fresh eyes would spot what I missed. Some evidence pointing to Victoria, not me.

But you apparently didn’t see anything suspicious. I wasn’t looking, Emily admitted quietly. I just glanced at the overall numbers, without details.

Michael sighed heavily and sat in the chair opposite her. How long has she known about us? Emily asked, glancing at the camera in the corner. From the beginning, Michael replied.

She set it up. She wanted me to start an affair with you. Emily felt nausea rising in her throat.

What? You mean all this was her plan? Michael nodded. Victoria knew you worked in IT before, that you have skills that could be useful. She deliberately appointed you as financial analyst, gave you access to reports.

Then she instructed me to get close to you. Emily stared at him, not believing her ears. You used me? All this time, you were just following her orders? No.

Michael leaned forward. Yes, initially it was her plan. But then… Then I really fell in love with you, Emily.

I swear. Everything between us is real. Emily shook her head, feeling tears welling up.

How can I believe you now? After everything I’ve learned… Michael reached out, trying to touch her, but Emily pulled away. I understand how you feel, he said quietly. But right now, we need to think about how to get out of this situation.

Victoria is dangerous. She won’t stop until she destroys us both. Why did she even start all this? Emily asked.

Why launder money through the company? Victoria works for people you wouldn’t want to know, Michael replied. Apex Commerce Inc. is the perfect platform for legalizing illegally obtained funds. Large turnover—lots of international contracts, complex financial flows.

Perfect cover. Emily recalled how quickly the company had grown in recent years. How Victoria always found new clients and partners.

How some deals were closed at incredible speed and on surprisingly favorable terms. And what do we do now? she asked. We can’t just leave.

She won’t allow it. I have a plan, Michael replied. But I need your help.

He leaned closer and spoke almost in a whisper. For the last few months, I’ve been collecting evidence. Copies of documents, recordings of conversations, data on bank transfers.

Everything that can link the fraud directly to Victoria, not me. But it’s not enough. I need someone with your skills to access her personal computer.

Her computer? Emily shuddered. That’s impossible. It’s protected better than the Pentagon.

Not quite, Michael smiled. I have her passwords. I peeked when she entered them once.

But there’s two-factor authentication, and I need someone who can bypass it. Emily thought. Technically, it was possible.

She could create a script to intercept the authentication signal and give them temporary access. But the risk was huge. And how do we even get into her office? Emily asked.

She always locks it when she leaves. I have a copy of the key, Michael replied. Victoria doesn’t know about it.

I made it a long time ago, just in case. He looked at his watch. Victoria is at a meeting with investors right now.

She’ll be there for at least two hours. This is our chance. Emily hesitated.

It all sounded like a crazy plan from a crime movie. Hacking someone’s computer, stealing confidential information. If caught, prison was inevitable.

And then? she asked. Suppose we get the evidence. What next? We’ll turn it over to the authorities and the IRS, Michael replied.

Anonymously, of course. Let them deal with Victoria and her backers. And us? He took Emily’s hand.

We can start a new life. Together. As we planned.

Emily looked at him, unsure whether to believe his words. After everything she’d learned, trusting Michael was hard. But she had no choice.

Victoria had essentially fired her. And without a job and references, finding a new position would be tough. Besides, if they didn’t stop the fraud, who knows how it would end.

«Okay,» she finally said. «I’ll help you. But then we’ll part ways.

Forever.» Pain flashed in Michael’s eyes, but he nodded. «I understand.

You have every right to hate me after everything that’s happened. But right now, we need to act together. They worked out the plan.

Emily would create a program to bypass the two-factor authentication on Victoria’s computer. Michael would get her into the director’s office and keep watch so no one disturbed them. They’d copy all necessary files and leave unnoticed.

Emily opened her laptop and started writing the code. Her fingers flew over the keyboard. Despite years as a financial analyst, she hadn’t forgotten her programming skills.

«Done,» she said after half an hour, closing the laptop. «Now we just need to connect this to her computer and run it.» Michael nodded.

«Then let’s go.» The sooner we start, the better our chances before Victoria returns. They left Emily’s office and headed to the elevator.

The office was almost empty, only a few employees lingered on this Friday. No one paid attention to Emily and Michael walking down the hallway. Victoria’s office was on the floor above.

A huge room with panoramic windows overlooking the city. Michael took out the key and opened the door. Hurry, he whispered, letting Emily in first.

Victoria’s office looked like a design magazine cover. Minimalist furniture, modern art paintings on the walls, fresh flowers in vases. And not a single stray paper on the perfectly clean desk.

Emily approached the computer and turned it on. While the system loaded, she looked around for cameras. If Victoria installed surveillance in Emily’s office, surely there was something here too.

«Don’t worry,» Michael said, as if reading her thoughts. «No cameras here.» Victoria is too paranoid to let anyone watch her.

The computer loaded, prompting for a password. Michael leaned in and entered the combination of characters. The system accepted the password, but immediately requested a code from the two-factor authentication app.

«Your turn,» Michael said, stepping back. Emily took out the flash drive, connected it to the computer, and ran her program. The screen flickered for a second, then the system skipped the two-factor step and loaded the desktop.

«You’re a genius,» Michael smiled. «I just know how this security works,» Emily replied, not taking her eyes off the screen. «We have little time.»

«What exactly are we looking for?» «Documents on offshore companies.» «Anything related to international transfers.» «And Victoria’s personal correspondence with people from the list I’ll give you.»

He pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to Emily. It was a list of names and companies, most of which she’d never heard of. Emily started the search.

She opened folder after folder, scanned files, copied anything that seemed important to the external drive Michael gave her. «Look,» she said, opening another document. «This is an agreement with some company in the Cayman Islands.

They supposedly provide consulting services, but the amounts. They’re huge. Michael came over and looked over her shoulder.

Exactly what we need. This is one of the main money-laundering schemes. Money goes offshore as payment for services, then returns through other companies as clean income.

Emily continued copying files. The more she found, the clearer the picture became. Apex Commerce Inc. was indeed used as a cover for large-scale financial fraud.

Millions of dollars passed through the company, settling in offshore accounts and returning through a complex system of transactions. This is insane, Emily whispered. How could she organize all this? «Victoria didn’t come up with it herself,» Michael replied.

Behind her are very influential people. Politicians, businessmen, possibly even criminal figures. She’s just the executor, though she gets her share.

Emily suddenly noticed a folder with an unusual name «Project Phoenix.» She opened it and found documents that looked even more suspicious. «What’s this?» she asked, showing Michael the screen.

He leaned in, scanning the files, and his face changed. «Oh my God,» he whispered, «this is worse than I thought.» She’s planning to liquidate the company.

Withdraw all assets, bankrupt Apex Commerce Inc., and disappear. When? Emily asked, feeling a chill inside. Michael opened one of the documents.

Judging by this timeline, in two weeks. Everything is ready. Money will be withdrawn through shell firms, documents forged, and the blame for bankruptcy is planned to be pinned on… He trailed off on me.

Emily couldn’t believe what she heard. That’s why she reacted so calmly to our affair. That’s why no scandal.

She used it as another piece of evidence against you. Michael nodded. Probably.

Imagine, the CEO’s husband, having an affair with an employee, suddenly involved in financial fraud and company bankruptcy. Perfect scapegoat. He looked at Emily.

You’re on that list too. They plan to accuse us both. Your signature is on several key documents related to financial reports.

Emily recalled all the papers she’d signed in recent months. She never read them too carefully, trusting Victoria and the legal department. We need to copy all this, she said decisively.

And find her correspondence too. If she discussed these plans with someone, it’ll be direct evidence. They continued the search.

Michael found a folder with Victoria’s personal correspondence and started scanning emails, while Emily studied the financial documents. «Here,» he suddenly said. «Correspondence with some Alex Sidorov.

He mentions Project Phoenix and discusses details of asset withdrawal. And here it directly says how to pin it all on me and you.» Emily looked at the screen…